bright yellow helichrysum plants growing in a field

Use for Anti-Aging, Acne, Pain & Inflammation, Heart Health, Digestive Support

Botanical image
  1. BOTANICAL NAME Helichrysum italicum
  2.  
  3. PARTS USED Leaves & flowers
  4. EXTRACTION METHOD Steam distilled
  5. COLOR Pale yellow
  6. NOTE CLASSIFICATION Middle to base
  7. AROMA Warm, earthy, slightly sweet
  1. Anti-Aging Some consider helichrysum oil to be a “Fountain of Youth” as one of its most prominent benefits is its ability to reduce the visible signs of aging. Helichrysum oil works through high levels of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties that help repair and restore cells and reduce the appearance of wrinkles and sagging skin.
  2. Pain & Inflammation While over-the-counter pills are a common way to get rid of pain, they can also be dangerous to your liver and other parts of your body. Helichrysum essential oil is non-toxic and non-irritating. It can be applied directly to the skin to help reduce pain and soothes aching muscles fairly quickly.
  3. Acne Healing Its high levels of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties help reduce inflammatory activation of acne causing bacteria for clear, glowing skin.
  4. Heart Health According to research, the observed cardiovascular effects of using helichrysum oil support the basis for its possible use in the management of high blood pressure and the protection of heart health — just like it’s been traditionally used for many years in European folkloric medicine.
  5. Digestive Support A traditional remedy for various intestinal complaints, Helichrysum can help soothe stomach discomfort.

The History of Helichrysum

The name Helichrysum is derived from the Greek “helios” meaning sun and “chrysos” meaning gold, referring to the color of many of the flowers of species in this genus. The Helichrysum flower was well known in ancient Greece for its beauty, as well as its medicinal properties. The flowers were braided in decorative crowns worn to celebrate the Greek god Apollo, who was tasked with arching the sun across the sky in his gilded chariot. However, the notoriety of helichrysum extends much farther in history, making an appearance in Homer’s The Odyssey as an ‘elixir of youth.’ The plant’s common name is Immortelle, French for “immortal” or “everlasting.”

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PRECAUTIONS Keep out of reach of children. Avoid contact with eyes. If pregnant or lactating, consult your healthcare practitioner before using. If applying an essential oil to your skin always perform a small patch test before using.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

SCHOLARLY ARTICLES
  1. De Canha, Marco Nuno et al. “Exploring the Anti-Acne Potential of Impepho [ Helichrysum odoratissimum  (L.) Sweet] to Combat  Cutibacterium acnes  Virulence.”  Frontiers in pharmacology  vol. 10 (2020):1559. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2019.01559
  2. Fraternale, Daniele et al. “ In Vitro  Anticollagenase and Antielastase Activities of Essential Oil of  Helichrysum italicum  subsp.  italicum  (Roth) G. Don.”  Journal of medicinal food  vol. 22, 10 (2019): 1041-6. https://doi.org/10.1089/jmf.2019.0054
  3. Han, Xuesheng et al. “Chemical composition analysis and  in vitro  biological activities of ten essential oils in human skin cells.”  Biochimie open  vol. 5 (2017): 1-7. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.biopen.2017.04.001
  4. Musabayane, Cephas T. et al. “Cardiovascular effects of Helichrysum ceres S Moore [Asteraceae] ethanolic leaf extract in some experimental animal paradigms.”  Cardiovascular journal of Africa  vol. 19, 5 (2008): 246-53. PMCID:  PMC3971623
  5. Rigano, Daniela et al. “Intestinal antispasmodic effects of Helichrysum italicum (Roth) Don ssp. italicum and chemical identification of the active ingredients.”  Journal of ethnopharmacology  vol. 150, 3 (2013): 901-6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2013.09.034
  6. Sala, Araceli et al. “Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of Helichrysum italicum.”  The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology  vol. 54, 3 (2002): 365-71. https://doi.org/10.1211/0022357021778600
  7. Wellspring, Wanona “ Aromatherapy as an Adjunct for the Management and Treatment of Pain: Therapeutic Grade Aromatherapy Essential Oils for Pain.Journal of Prolotherapy  vol.2, 3 (2010):461-3.